Cecelia Shinobu (Suzuki) Yamagata (Poston
305-10-B) was born January 11, 1924 to Heisuke and Chiyono (Ikema) Suzuki in
Simi, California. She grew up in Simi and Santa Barbara, with her older sister,
Sue, and younger brother, Ceasar. Her mother ran a boarding house. Her father
ran a trucking business, running fish and goods from the coast to various mom
and pop markets in the area.
Following February 19, 1942 when all people of Japanese American descent during World War II were ordered to move inland from the California coast, she and her family moved to Orosi, California. They were later transported to the Poston, Arizona camp 3, one of America's WWII concentration camps for people of Japanese descent.
At Poston camp 3, she met George Y. Yamagata (Poston 325-8-C). George left the camp to serve in the Army’s Military Intelligence Service. She collected Stars and Stripes newspaper articles about his Army baseball pitching career in Japan. He sent her letters with pictures. The most memorable are of the atomic ruins in Hiroshima.
Following February 19, 1942 when all people of Japanese American descent during World War II were ordered to move inland from the California coast, she and her family moved to Orosi, California. They were later transported to the Poston, Arizona camp 3, one of America's WWII concentration camps for people of Japanese descent.
At Poston camp 3, she met George Y. Yamagata (Poston 325-8-C). George left the camp to serve in the Army’s Military Intelligence Service. She collected Stars and Stripes newspaper articles about his Army baseball pitching career in Japan. He sent her letters with pictures. The most memorable are of the atomic ruins in Hiroshima.
After the war, Cecelia went to Los Angeles with her sister to make a
home for the Suzuki family. She received an A.A. degree and typed up to 120
words per minute and take shorthand at 40 words per minute. Her first job was a
secretary with the California Department of Corrections in a clinical
psychologist’s office.
She married George Yamagata in 1954 and moved to Reedley. Their son, Richard, was born in Reedley in 1956. They moved to a 38-acre farm in Orange Cove and daughter Pauline, was born in 1959. In 1971, the family moved back to Reedley. She raised two children and was a homemaker and tended the family gardens. She was an avid reader and supporter of the Reedley Library. Her history with the Reedley United Methodist Fellowship Church began in 1954 and she taught Sunday School and participated in Women's Fellowship Group. Her favorite events were the Church Food Bazaar and the Church Rummage Sale. In later years, she helped with the Church Bulletin newsletter and sent letters for the church.
She married George Yamagata in 1954 and moved to Reedley. Their son, Richard, was born in Reedley in 1956. They moved to a 38-acre farm in Orange Cove and daughter Pauline, was born in 1959. In 1971, the family moved back to Reedley. She raised two children and was a homemaker and tended the family gardens. She was an avid reader and supporter of the Reedley Library. Her history with the Reedley United Methodist Fellowship Church began in 1954 and she taught Sunday School and participated in Women's Fellowship Group. Her favorite events were the Church Food Bazaar and the Church Rummage Sale. In later years, she helped with the Church Bulletin newsletter and sent letters for the church.
Cecelia Shinobu Yamagata died on February 23, 2013 at the North Pointe
Health Center in Fresno. She is survived by her sister, Sue Tanaka; brother,
Ceasar Suzuki; daughter, Pauline Hirabayashi (Ryan, Melissa, and Douglas) and
son Richard (Leland).
Source:
Source:
http://www.reedleyexponent.com/articles/2013/04/11/obituaries/doc515daf472db9f253558755.txt
